Download iOS 8 onto your iPhone and iPad today

Today Apple releases iOS 8 to the world, but how do you download it, what Apple devices are compatible and what new features can you expect? Here’s everything you need to know.

For the last two months we’ve been playing with iOS 8, and while Apple’s latest OS doesn’t provide a graphical overhaul like iOS 7, it does add a lot of cool little features that make the overall experience more satisfying. Little touches like the improved Notification Centre and the long-awaited support for third-party keyboards are very welcome indeed, and make iOS 8 well worth a download.

Can I download iOS 8 onto my iPhone or iPad?

First up, compatibility. You’ll need one of the following Apple phones or tablets if you want to upgrade to iOS 8:

iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s

iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad Air, iPad Mini, iPad Mini with Retina display

iPod Touch 5th gen

How do I download iOS 8 onto my iPhone or iPad?

The iOS 8 download should be available from around 6pm UK time on Wednesday 17th October. That gives you plenty of time to prepare…

First up, make sure you’ve got space for the update – you’ll need at least a gig and a half of free storage, but ideally you want more than 2GB unused. You can see how much storage is free in Settings, by going to General and then Usage.

You might also want to perform a full backup to either your computer or iCloud account, in case things go tits up.

With that done, make sure your iPhone or iPad’s either plugged in or charged up, and you’re connected to a decent Wi-Fi network. On your Apple device, head to Settings, then General, then Software Update. If iOS 8 is ready, you’ll get a message asking if you wish to download. It’ll take a while, so go make yourself a sandwich or something.

You can also update via iTunes if you like. Just hook up to your computer via USB and open iTunes, and the option to update should automatically appear. Ta-dah!

Right now at the time of posting, iOS 8 still isn’t available. We’re expecting it to pop up at around 6pm UK time.

What new features will I get with iOS 8?

We’ve already written about iOS 8’s best features, but if you want a more extensive list, here’s a quick look at all of the new features.

If you’ve downloaded iOS 8, let us know what you think by posting a comment below.

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